Water heater



Apiil 13,1926.

A. T. FOWLES WATER HEATER Filed May 1,

1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 III,

Aprll 13 1926. A; T Fowl-ES WATER HEATER 3 Sheets-She et 2 Filed May 1, 1925 I N VEN TOR. A .771? aka;

A TTORNEY.

April 13 1926. 1,580,718

' A. T. FOWLES WATER HEATER Filed May 1, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 I N VEN TOR.

ATTORNEY' Patented Apr. 13, 1926. v r 1,588,?18

UNITED STTES PATENT FFIQEY ALFRED T. FowLEs, on DALLAS, TEXAS. I

WATER HEATER. Application filed Ma 1, 1925. fierial No. 27,218.

To all whom it may concern: In thedrawings wherein like refer- Be it known that I, ALFRED-T. FowLns, ence characters denote corresponding parts a citizen of the United States, residing in throughout the several views the city and county of Dallas and State of Figure 1 is an elevation of a water heater,

Texas, have invented certain new and use in accordance with this invention.

ful Improvements in Water Heaters, of Figure 2 is a vertical sectional View of the which the following is a specification. burner element.

This invention relates to a water heater Figure 3 is a section on line 3 3, Figof that type including an oil burner as a ure 2.

heating element, and has for its object to Referring to the drawings in detail, 1 de- 00 provide, in a manner as hereinafter set notes'a tank, preferably .constructed in the forth, a water heater having means consame manner as that disclosed in my applitrolled by the temperature of the heated cation, Serial Number 412,872, filed May 12,

water for discontinuing the supply of burn- 1924, and which is mounted on a stand 2.

ing fluid, such as kerosene or other hydro- The tank 1 is provided with a door 3, so

carbon to the burner element after the water that access can be had to a chamber arranged has been heated to a predetermined point, at the lower portion of the tank and into and further for opening the supply after which extends a burner element referred to the temperature of the water has been regenerally by the reference character 4. The

20 d L element 4 is employed for burning kerosene,

A further object of the invention is to or other form of hydrocarbon burning fluid, provide, in a manner as hereinafter set and when the element 4 is mounted in opforth, a water heater provided with a burner erative position'it is disposed in alignment; element formed with a wick having a main with the vertical axis of the tank or body v 25 and a pilot portion, and further with means portion 1 of the heater. whereby the operation of the main portion Communicating with the tank or body of the wick will be discontinued while the portion 1, through the medium of the pipe pilot portion is active after the water has 5, is a thermostatic oil supply controlling been heated to a predetermined temperaelement 6, which is interposed in an oil 30 ture;

Further objects of the invention are to above the element6, and saidcutofl 8 comprovide, .in a manner as hereinafter set municates with an oil feed pipe 9. The forth, a water heater, which is simple in pipes 7 and 9 are provided for conducting its construction and arrangement, strong, oil, such as kerosene or other hydrocarbon durable, including a thermostatic burning burning fluid, to the burning element 4, and'85 fluid supply control, thoroughly efficient inafter the water in the tank or body 1 has its use, readily set up, permitting ofconbeen heated to a predetermined point the venient access to the burner element of the element 6 becomes active and closes the heater, and comparatively inexpensive to pipe 7 until the temperature of the water manufacture; has been reduced. The cutoff 8 is'rnanually Vith the foregoing and other object in operated for completely shutting off the view, the invention consists of the novel con supply of oil from the pipe 9 to the pipe struction, combination and arrangement of 7, but during the operation of the heater parts, as hereinafter more specifically dethe cutoff 8 remains open.

' scribed and illustrated in the accompanying The pipe 7- includesa swivelled section drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment it), carryinga T-coupling '11, from which; of the invention, but it is to be understoodextends, at right angles, a branch 12, openthat changes, variations and modifications ing into afloat valve mechanism 13 of any can be resorted to which come within the suitable form. The T-coupling 11 is fun scope of the claims hereunto appended. ther connected to an overflow line 141, which supply pipe 7,. having a cutoff 8- arranged 80 is closed at its top, as indicated at 15. The line 14 includes a T-coupling 16, having an inclined branch 17 which leads from the upper portion of the valve mechanism 13. The overflow line 14, is swivelled intermediate its ends, as indicated at 18. The swivel connection in the supply line 10 is indicated at 19, and the swivel connections 18 and 19 permit of the swinging of the valve mechanism 13 outwardly from the point illus trated in Figure 1. Leading from the valve mechanism 13, that is from the bottom thereof, to the bottom of the burner element 4, is an oil conducting pipe 20 for supplying oil or burning fluid to the burner element 4. The ends of the pipe 20 are lixedly secured to the valve mechanism 13 and burner element 4, so that when the valve mechanism 13 is swung from the position shown in Figure 1, the burner element 4 will be carried therewith.

The burner element comprises an outer shell 21, an intermediate shell 22 and an inner shell 23. The shell 21 is of greater height than the shell 22, and thelatt-er is spaced a substantial distancefrom. the former. The shell 22 is of greater height than the shell 23 and the latter is spaced a substantial distance from the former. The shell 21 is imperforate and the shells 22 and 23 are perforated throughout. The lower end of the shell 22 is in alignment with the lower end of the shell 23, and the shell 21 extends above and below the shells 22 and 23. The lower end of the shell 21 is formed with a series of inwardly extending spaced tapering projections 24 forming retarders to prevent too free an up motion of air as it enters the lower end of the shell 21 and passes between the flue 25 formed between the shells 21 and 22, as well as through the shells 22 and 23.

Positioned within the lower portion of the shell 21, at one side thereof, is an oil receiver, which is of segmental contour and is formed with a pair of side walls 26, 27, a pair of end walls 28, 29, a top 30 and a bottom 31, thereby providing a chamber 32 to which the oil or burning fluid is supplied. The oil receiver forms what may be termed a pilot box. The bottom 31 has an opening 33 with the wall thereof threaded, and engaging therewith is a peripherally threaded depending nipple 34, which is coupled with one end of the pipe 20 by a union 35. The top 30 is provided with a lengthwise extending slot 36 and is also formed with a wick guide consisting of a pair of opposed, spaced extensions 37, 38, each having its upper end terminating in an angleshaped flange 39 of the same length as the length of the extension. The flanges 39 are oppositely disposed with respect to each other and the extensions 37, 38 are integral with the top 30 and have their inner sides flush with the opposed side walls of the slot 36. The wick guide is areuate in contour and terminates in a circular wick support of a height greater than the wick guide. The wick support is referred to generally by the reference character 40, is U-shaped in vertical section and provided at its top with a pair of oppositely extending angle-shaped flanges 41, 42, which form continuations of the flanges 39. The wick support 40 is integral with the end walls 28, 29 of the pilot box and also with the extensions 37 38, and said support extends above the top 30 of the pilot box. The support 40 communicates with the chamber 32.

The burner element 4 includes a wick formed of a main portion and a pilot portion, and the former is indicated at 43 and the latter at 44. The wick preferably is constructed of a compound of asbestos and the portion 43 is of less height than the portion 44. The portion 43 extends between the flanges 41 and 42, and the portion 44 extends between the flanges 39. The portion 44 depends into the chamber 32, whereas the portion 43 is arranged exteriorly of said cham ber. The wick guide and wick support provide means for supportingthe shells 22 and 23. The shell 22 is mounted on the horlzontal portion of the flange 42 and the horizontal. portion of the outer flange 39, and the shell 23 is mounted on the horizontal portion of the flange 41 and the horizontal portion of the inner flange 39. The shell 23 abuts against the vertical portion of the flange 42 and the vertical portion of the outer flange 39, and the shell 23 abuts against the vertical portion of the flange 41 and against the vertical portion of the inner flange 39, and by this arrangenient the shells are spaced from each other, and the wick extends upwardly therebetween.

Seated on the top edge of the shell 23 is a perforated plate 45, having an inset flange 46 which abuts against the inner face of the shell 23, and mounted against the lower face of the horizontal portion of the flange 41 and against the lower face of the horizontal portion of the inner flange 39 is a perforated plate 47. The plates 45 and 46 are connected together by a headed bolt 48 carrying on 1ts upper end. exteriorly of the plate 45, a wing nut-49. The shell 21 has secured thereto a handle member 50 to facilitate the swinging outwardly of the burner element with respect to the tank or body portion 1, when desired.

The main portion 43 of the wick will be approximately seventy-five per cent thereof and the pilot portion approximately twenty-five per cent. When the supply of oil or burning fluid is shut of from the chamber 32, the oil within the wick support 40 will soon be consumed and the flame on. the portion 43 of the wick goes out, but as there will be a certain amount of oil sumed, or in other within the chamber 32, tion of the wick gnished until the oil the flame at the porwill .not become extinin the chamber is conwords, the portion 44 will continue to burn as long as the chamber 32 contains oil or until the thermostatic element permits the oil to again flow to the chamber 32. The oil when supplied to the chamber 32,, will pass from the upper portion thereof into the wick support 40, where the portion 43 of the wick will take up the oil and burn the same. lVhen the supply of oil is cut oil from the chamber 32, the supply to the wick support 40 will be discontinued.

The perforated shells provide for the supply of air to create proper combustion. The wick being formed from a compound of asbestos and mounted in a metallic support will last for an indefinite period. The urner element cannot become flooded with oil as the overflow line from the float valve mechanism will provide for the passing off of the excess oil and the excess oil will also, pass off should any of the valves fail to close the supply. The shells 22 and 23 are connected together by the hold-fast devices 51 and although the handle 50 can be employed for swinging out the burner element, yet it can be employed for removing the shell 21 when disconnected from the other elements of the burner. The union 35 can be adjusted so that any desired elevation of the oil may be had in the burner. The shell 21 is provided with reinforcing beads 52.

The wick is formed of two sections, one section being the portion 43 and the other section the portion 44, and the latter will be active when the former is inactive, due to the fact that when the level of the oil within the chamber 32 falls below the bottom of the support 40, the supply of oil to the latter will be discontinued, yet there will be sufiicient oil within the chamber 32 to provide for the activity of the portion 44, and the latter will remain active as long as the oil is within the chamber 32, but the burner is so set up when performing its heating function that when the water has been heated to a predetermined temperature the portion or section 43 of the wick will become extinguished while the portion 44 remains active, but as soon as the temperature of the water has been reduced, and the oil again supplied to the chamber 32, the portion 43 will then become active, whereby a burner element is set up including a sectional Wick having one of its sections intermittently active, under such conditions reducing the consumption of the burning fluid or oil.

It is thought that the many advantages of a water heater, in accordance with this invention, having its heating element of the oil burner type. can be readily understood, and although the preferred embodiment of the invention is as illustrated and described,

yet .it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction canbe had which .will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed. i

lVhat I claim is:

1. A water heater comprising a burner element of the oil burning type provided with a sectional wick, and a thermostatic control means providing forthe intermittent activity of one of said sections during the activity of the other of said sections. I

2. In a Water heater, a swivelly supported burner element of the oil burning type including a sectional wick and a wick guide and a Wick holder therefor, and thermostatic oil supply controlling means to provide for the intermittent activity of one of the sections of the wick during the activity of the other, said burner element further including a plurality of perforated elements supported from the wick guide and Wick holder.

3. A Water heater comprising a burner element of the oil burning type provided with an oil receiving chamber, a wick guide, a wick holder of greater height than the guide and communicating with said chamber and asectional wick having one section mounted in the guide and the other section within the holder, that section mounted in the guide extending into said chamber, and a thermostatic oil supply control for rendering that section mounted in the holder intermittently active during the activity of that section mounted in the guide.

4. A water heater comprising a burner element. of the oil burning type provided with an oil receiving chamber, a wick guide, a wick holder of greater height than the guide and communicating with said chamber and a sectional wick having one section mounted in the guide and the other section within the holder, that section mounted in the guide extending into said chamber, and a thermostatic oil supply control for rendering that section mounted in the holder intermittentlyactive during the activity of thatsection mounted in the guide, that sec-- tion mounted in the guide being of greater height than the section mounted in the holder. i F

5. A water heater comprising a burner element of the oil burning type including a wick formed of a pair of sections, and means to provide for the intermittent activity of one of the sections of the wick during the activity of the other section, said means in-' cluding an oil supply and overflow line, said oil supply line having interposed therein a thermostatic controlling element communieating with the water space of the heater and a float valve mechanism communicating 6. A Water heater comprising a burner element of the oil burning type including a wick formed of a pilot portionand a main portion, a thermostatic control oil supply line including a swivelled section and further including a float valve mechanism supported by said section and provided with a conducting pipe leading to and supporting said element, said burner element further includingmeans coacting static control for the supply line to provide for the intermittent activity of said main portion during the activity of said pilot portion.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature 15 hereto.

ALFRED T. FOVVLES.

With said thcrnio- O 

